French Polynesia Diving: Moorea and Fakarava

Upon touchdown in Papeete and after clearing customs and arrivals, you'll be welcomed by our local representative and driven the 20-minute journey to your hotel in Papeete for your overnight stay. Once you've settled into your mountain view room, stroll down to the main market and enjoy sipping on a Pina Colada - a firm favourite of French Polynesia.

Wake up on French Polynesian time and enjoy a fresh fruit breakfast before being driven ten minutes to the dock to catch a 45-minute ferry to Moorea. Let the sun warm your skin and enjoy the breeze on this catamaran as you approach the beautifully rugged island of Moorea with its jagged mountains and soft sand beaches. You'll be whisked away in a private car for a 30-minute drive around the island's edge towards your hotel. Surrounded by the crystal-clear water of the Pacific Ocean and with views of the shaggy green mountains behind, this is a true eco oasis and your home for the next seven nights. After settling into your overwater bungalow, lounge waterside with a vanilla tea and take a deep breath; you've arrived in paradise. Head down to one of the bars for a refreshing juice or check into the hotel's spa for an anti-jet lag massage before your underwater adventures begin.

Over the next three days, immerse yourself in the breathtaking underwater world of Moorea, exploring the crystal-clear, coral-filled waters. Tiki Point is one of our favourite dive spots, teeming with marine life, from captivating lemon and black-tip reef sharks to graceful grey sharks. A short distance away lies Aito, a haven for drift dive enthusiasts and turtle admirers. Adorned with stunning flora and fauna, and graced by the presence of the emperor angel fish, Aito makes for the perfect follow-up dive after Tiki Point.

Don't miss the exhilarating Corridor Drift, a high-speed drift dive through the lagoon channel. The clear waters offer glimpses of schools of eagle rays and white-tip sharks as they explore the coral-covered walls and reef caves. And for seasoned divers, the Rose Garden is a must-visit. This site is off the island's North Coast and boasts remarkable coral topography. Amid the mesmerising coral formations, be sure to take in the sight of shark-infested waters surrounding you.

Enjoy a slow start this morning - today is yours to enjoy as you please. Perhaps you fancy a cultural trip to the Fare Natura (Eco Museum)? Or strapping on hiking boots to enjoy a five-mile hike on the Mount Rotuni trail? Or maybe it's a day for the spa, filling in your dive diary and devouring your holiday read. However you choose to spend your day, you know that you'll be ending it with delicious food at one of the hotel's restaurants. Perhaps tonight, you'll opt for a table with panoramic views of the South Pacific Ocean while feasting on Polynesian cuisine and indulging in some Polynesian culture with the twice-weekly dance shows.

After an early start, a quick coffee and a seamless transfer to the dock, head out for a boat trip with Dr Machael Poole where you'll encounter rays, sharks, dolphins and (if you're luck) humpback whales, depending on the season. En route, you'll have the chance to snorkel in the translucent lagoon, savour complimentary fruit and juice, and capture memorable moments. Return to the hotel by early afternoon and spend the rest of the day relaxing on the soft sand before your final meal.

Today, you'll be chauffeured by car and boat from North Fakarava to the serene landscapes of South Fakarava. It's a seriously scenic journey, so relax on the sun-drenched decks and savour the views across the turquoise waters. Arrive, check into your bungalow and embrace the laid-back atmosphere surrounding you. What will you do on your first afternoon? We suggest taking one of the snorkels on offer and hopping into the warm, gin-clear waters.

Get ready to dive with over a thousand fish species, rays and sharks in Fakarava's UNESCO biosphere reserve. A veritable undersea garden of Eden, renowned for its impeccably preserved coral reefs, Fakarava, is a true gem of the Tuamotu Islands. Within the waters, you'll glide with rare species such as hawksbill sea turtles and coconut crabs.

Today, you'll be chauffeured by car and boat from North Fakarava to the serene landscapes of South Fakarava. It's a seriously scenic journey, so relax on the sun-drenched decks and savour the views across the turquoise waters. Arrive, check into your bungalow and embrace the laid-back atmosphere surrounding you. What will you do on your first afternoon? We suggest taking one of the snorkels on offer and hopping into the warm, gin-clear waters.

Get ready to dive with hundreds of sharks over pristine coral reefs as you enjoy several dives in the Tetamanu Pass. Here, you won't just see sharks; you'll swim among them above, below, forwards and backwards. Enjoy time with these graceful creatures and spot the variety including lemon, black tips, greys, silver tips and many more.

The next two days are yours to enjoy. Wake up to the gentle lapping of waves and the sun poking through the coconut blinds of your lagoon front bungalow. How do you want to spend the days? More diving with sharks and rays over a rainbow of corals? How about a stroll and laze on a secluded coconut-lined beach? Maybe it's time for another massage at one of the local spas? However, you choose to spend these final two days in paradise, remember to soak in the nature that surrounds you, take some final snaps and pick up a souvenir (maybe a pearl from one of the local pearl farms?) before enjoying your meals at the lagoon facing dining area are you're nourished with locally grown ingredients.

All too quickly your French Polynesia adventure has come to an end. Soak in the final rays of the morning sun and enjoy the fruits and juices of this atoll before being transferred back to the airport in time to catch your flight to Papeete and then home. Be sure to steal a final glance at this untamed paradise - in a few days it will all feel like a wonderful dream.